2011 Holiday Gift Guide: For Food Lovers

Here at the shop, we recently had a very difficult brainstorming session. The task? To narrow down our products to a few select items that would be perfect gifts for the holiday season. Our lead cheese buyer advised on the cheese, our olive oil buyer came up with the olive oil and vinegar pairing and, in the end, the list was a team effort. We tried to find something for everyone and hope you find it helpful!

For the Cheese Lover

Cheese of the Month Club – Enroll your favorite cheese devotee in our Cheese of the Month Club. They receive a monthly delivery of hand-selected artisan cheese along with full descriptions, pairing suggestions and where appropriate, recipes. Subscriptions are available for 3 months, 6 months or 1 year at the entry or connoisseur levels.

For the Connoisseur

Saladini Vecchio Cheese Knife – If we had to choose only one cheese knife, this would be it. It’s a classic and is designed to work with a variety of cheese styles – sturdy enough to work with hard cheeses, it is also thin enough to work with softer cheeses. Our discovery of Italian knife-maker, Coltelleria Saladini, was truly a happy accident. Handles are available in buffalo or ox horn and olive wood.

For the Kitchen Experimenter

Salt and Pepper Sampler – Our spice buyer, Julia, first put together her samplers last year and they were such a success that we decided to bring them back. A collection of unusual salts and peppers from around the world, this sampler offers a wonderful diversity of texture, flavor and color. Information about each of the salts and peppers is included. This one’s for the culinary explorer!

For the Traveller and the Sophisticate

Brebis du Haut-Bearn and Miguel Gorry’s Cherry Jam – Ihsan, Valerie and Julie of our South End store, discovered Brebis du Haut-Bearn on a trip to the Pyrenees. Raw milk sheep cheese, it is one of the best representations in this style that we have ever seen. As is classic in the region, we recommend pairing it with a cherry jam – in this case, Miguel Gorry’s Cerises Noires. Miguel is actually the cousin of a brebis cheesemaker so it is no surprise that his preserve makes for an ideal pairing. Perfect for the person who has tried everything and who has traveled to the ends of the earth for food!

For the Home Chef

Olio delle Caselle and La Vecchia Dispensa Organic Balsamic – Oil and vinegar are a natural pairing and the perfect gift for a home chef. Tim, our olive oil and vinegar buyer, selected these two for their ability to represent the best qualities of each product category. Harvested by hand and exclusive to us, Caselle oil is beautifully balanced. And, for four generations, La Vecchia Dispensa has been making superbly crafted vinegars – this particular Aceto is deeply flavored with a delicate sweetness.

For the Meat Lover

Housemade Charcuterie Sampler – Julie is our resident charcutière and those who haven’t tried her goodies are missing out. Recently featured in Bon Appétit for her Rabbit Pâté and selected as a finalist in the Good Food Awards, this sampler provides a wonderful cross-section of her work, including: maple-cured bacon, sausages and pork rillettes. All are made with humanely-raised pork sourced from small, local farms.

For the Student

Cheesemaking Workshop Series – Sign up your student today! Over the course of four Sundays, attendees will learn how to make cheese from Jess, our Cave Manager and one of our cheesemongers. Jess has apprenticed as a cheesemaker on dairy farms in France and the US. She will provide a comprehensive overview of do-it-yourself cheesemaking, beginning with basic, fresh varieties and culminating with firmer, aged cheeses. From stretching mozzarella, to tomme-style cheeses, this is a one-of-a-kind opportunity!

And more…

Still haven’t found something? Consider one of our gift baskets! Items are beautifully arranged in a reusable Formaggio Kitchen tote bag or tucked in a basket and finished off with a bow. Baskets may be picked up in the store, delivered locally or shipped anywhere in the United States. Gift cards are another easy option – if someone on your list loves great food, but you’re not sure what to get them, a gift card lets them choose for themselves. Our gift cards are available in any amount and can be used at any of our three stores or on our website.